Oscar Hagberg’s Navy football team played Army at a jammed packed Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium in 1945. Coach Hagberg’s Midshipmen were up against America’s wonder team. Army defeated Navy 32-14 and finished a second undefeated and untied season. President Truman was in the stands. The Army team was led by two Heismen trophy winners, Doc Blanchard (1945) and Gleen Davis (1946). The two superstars exploded for 5 touchdowns. Red Barber announced the game over radio to millions.
Oscar Emil “Swede” Hagberg grew up in Follansbee and played football for the Blue Wave high school team. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he was on the Lacrosse team (1929-1931) and the Navy football team during (1929-1930). Oscar was the 25th head football coach for Navy. He held the position for two seasons, 1944-1945. His coaching record was 13 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. During the World War II, he commanded submarines. Beginning in 1943, his craft, the USS Albacore, made torpedo attacks against Japanese transports. His sub sank the Japanese gunboat Heijo Maru near the Caroline Islands. In November 1943, his USS Albacore torpedoed and sunk the Japanese transport Kenzan Maru north-east of Manus.